Flight Over the Solomons

Flight Over the Solomons
For Saturday, March 7, 2026
Michael MacKuen

Today we shall take a look at the historic Solomons Campaign (1942-1944). During World War II, this was the extended conflict in the Solomon Islands, between Rabaul and Guadalcanal, in which the Allies halted and reversed the forces of the Japanese Empire. In late 1942, the Japanese seemed invincible and the efforts of the Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen were seen as doomed to failure. By early 1944, the tide had turned and the Allies were on their way to victory. For fun, we shall treat this week’s event as a loose reenactment of flying during that time. Several of our airports are imaginary recreations of the military airfields – with ships, vehicles, and aircraft from the era. A few sceneries are renditions of important historic airfields shown in their present state. And a few are bare-bones default representations. And again for fun, this is an opportunity for some, but not everyone, to fly historic warbirds of that time and place. We will be flying “the Slot.”


Black Sheep on the beach at Vella Lavella

We begin at Seghe [AGGS] on the eastern coast of New Georgia Island. After defeating the Japanese in their efforts to retake Guadalcanal, the Allies (mostly Americans here) began the long journey to the war’s end with a full-scale landing on the western side of New Georgia. The goal was the vital airfield at Munda Point which the Japanese had built and developed in 1942 as a support field for their Guadalcanal campaign. Before launching the invasion, the Americans first built a rough strip at Segi Point to support the operations in the west. We shall fly from this small strip to Munda* [AGGM] which, after a shockingly difficult month-long battle, was captured and rebuilt as a major base of operations in the region. (The * indicates a re-created WWII airfield. The details in these representative but somewhat fanciful recreations are worth a close look.)

We next stop at Gizo* [AGGN] airstrip – located on the narrow Nusatupe Island just offshore from the country’s second-biggest town. The wartime landing ground was built by leveling two small islands and joining them with excavated material. (After enjoying some modernization, this field continues in service today. In 2023, it won an award for “best airstrip in the South Pacific.”) On the approach, we pass near Plum Pudding Island and over Olasana and Naru Islands from which the PT-109 crew (led by Lieutenant Kennedy) were rescued in August 1943. And then on to Barakoma Airfield* [AGBA] on Vella Lavella. After the costly seizure of Munda, the Americans’ initial plans to take the large Japanese garrison and airfield on Kolombangara were quickly revised. Just a bit further west was lightly-defended Vella Lavella Island on which Marines and Seabees landed in August 1943. The airfield was operational by September and fully developed by November. For the next 6 months it hosted a Navy F6F squadron and a half dozen Marine F4U squadrons including the famous VMF-214 Black Sheep of Pappy Boyington.

We follow up with another strip built by the Americans. In October-November 1943 the 3^rd New Zealand Division captured Mono in the Treasury Islands as a potential base for attacks on Rabaul. The project focused on adjacent Stirling Island where the Seabees did their magic. Within a month the airfield became operational for multiple USAAF squadrons of P-38s and B-25s in the campaign to neutralize Rabaul. While most of the airbase is now gone, the airstrip remains in use by Solomon Airlines. We land at the contemporary Mono [AGGO].

Then we make a quick hop to the Shortland Islands and Ballale Island [AGGE]. In 1942 the Japanese captured the island and built a major operational airfield with a resurfaced runway and matted taxiway loops and revetments. By early 1943, the airfield was a busy forward base for bombers and fighters of both the Navy and Army with up to 95 combat aircraft on the island. For construction, they used more than 500 prisoners captured during the siege of Singapore. Tragically, a number of men died due to harsh working conditions and many more were killed when the Allies bombed the airfield and hit the prisoners’ camp. The remaining few men were executed under orders to eliminate the prisoners if the island were to be taken. In the event, the island was bypassed. We continue to the main island of Bougainville to execute a low-pass or touch-and-go at Buin [AYUI], a Japanese-built military airbase. In early April 1943, the thoughtful, capable and widely-revered Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto took personal command over a massive two-week air campaign (I-Go). The first wave combined 150 aircraft from Rabaul with 200 aircraft from the carrier fleet dispersed to Buka, Buin and Kahili on Bougainville and at Ballale. The strategic goal was to halt the Allied offensive momentum and gain time to build up the defenses around the naval stronghold at Rabaul. Apparently successful, the operation was concluded and on April 18 Yamamoto personally flew from Rabaul to congratulate the pilots at Ballale. American intelligence got the details of his flight and USAAF P-38s intercepted the aircraft and shot down and killed Yamamoto during Operation Vengeance. The interception took place near Buin airfield.

As the Allies advanced, they needed an airbase that could more effectively operate against Rabaul. On November 1, 1943, the US Navy and Marines conducted an amphibious landing at Empress Augusta Bay – on the lightly defended west coast of Bougainville. Seabees immediately started construction of Torokina and made the airfield operational in 40 days. The single runway was surfaced with Marston matting and was primarily used by fighters – of the USN, USMC, USAAF, and the RNZAF On December 30, Piva Airfield was opened just north. One runway (Piva Yoke) became the main bomber field and a second runway (Piva Uncle) augmented the initial fighter capacity. These three airfields proved critical to the eventual neutralization of Rabaul – because they put the massive Japanese base of operations within range of the Allies’ tactical fighters and bombers. We can land at either Torokina* [AGBK] or Piva Torokina* [TOK] (The Piva Fighter Strip is marked by waypoint [PIVAF].) The beachside airstrip AGBK is slightly shorter but more scenic! (Pick AGBK and Runway 09/27.) A low pass over the unchosen nearby strip would be appreciated by the men who prepared the airfield…

We visit two adjacent airfields at the northern tip of Bougainville. First we execute a low-pass or touch-and-go at the Japanese auxiliary field Bonin* [ABON] on the Bonin Peninsula. And then, just across the narrow Buka Passage, we land at Buka [AYBK] which remains in service as the island’s main commercial airport. These two airfields were maintained in active status as forward airfields with relatively small resident components (up to 36 aircraft) but always ready as a staging ground for Rabaul-based aircraft to conduct operations to the south. (These were constant threats to the fighter-bomber complex at Torokina.) The airstrips were regularly attacked by the Allies but eventually bypassed as the campaign against Rabaul came to a conclusion.

Finally, we fly 150nm to cross New Ireland and land at the northern tip of New Britain to see Rabaul itself. We first land at Tokua [AYTK] which was one of the naval stronghold’s outlying airfields. Rabaul and its airport were located at the foot of the very active Tavurvur volcano before a 1994 eruption destroyed the town and the airport. The provincial capital was moved to Kokopo and the main airfield was relocated here at Tokua, on the opposite side of the extended Rabaul caldera. After a moment, we fly 9nm to the southwest to execute a low-pass or touch-and-go at Tobera* [PTO] which was another of the Japanese outlying airfields – here it is depicted in a minimalist WWII form. Then 12nm to the northwest, over Simpson Harbour, we reach Rabaul Lakunai* [AYRB] which was the main airfield for the Japanese naval fortress during WWII. After the war, this continued as the town’s main commercial field until the devasting 1994 eruption.

Through 1942 and 1943 and early 1944, Rabaul was the central operational center for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the region. It was defended by 110,000 troops and Simpson Harbour was often filled with warships and transports. The main airbase at Lakunai was supported with 5 outlying airfields and the air fleet numbered 100-300 combat aircraft. It was from Rabaul that most the aircraft for the Guadalcanal campaign were flown – 4 hours out before engaging in combat and 4 hours back. It was the home base for the legendary Tainan Air Group which included the singular Saburo Sakai, the charismatic Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, their amiable friend top scoring ace Toshio Ota, and their exceptional squadron commander Junichi Sasai. Over Guadalcanal, Ota and Sasai were killed and Sakai was very seriously wounded.

The Allies decided not to seize Rabaul but instead to neutralize it and bypass it. Establishing air and naval bases around the stronghold, from November 1943 they conducted increasingly massive aerial attacks on the harbor and airfields. The IJN warships departed in November after a number were sunk. The Japanese Navy then decided to reinforce the air fleet with planes and experienced pilots from their carriers and then brought in even more planes to establish an effective air defense. But the constant loss of planes and especially the loss of trained pilots threatened to wipe out the Navy’s air wing. Finally in February 1944, the Navy flew the airplanes to Truk and tried to evacuate the highly skilled maintenance staff – whose transport ship was sunk on departure. Without warships or aircraft, and under constant aerial bombardment, “fortress Rabaul” became “prison Rabaul” as the troops could not escape.

We can celebrate the courage and skill and sacrifices of the airmen who participated on both sides of this campaign as well as deeply grieve the human tragedy of war.

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here. We prefer real weather.

Aircraft
This route runs 485nm. The event asks for fast aircraft and encourages flights in warbirds of the time and place. Some popular choices include: the Grumman F4F Wildcat, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Mitsubishi A6M Zero, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Vought F4U Corsair, and the Grumman F6F Hellcat. (Also welcome would be the “period-adjacent” Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and North American P-51 Mustang.) Pilots who prefer a more modern flight will need aircraft capable of 240kts fast cruise – say a Daher TBM or Pilatus PC-12 or Beechcraft King Air. Many of these historic aircraft can be difficult to master, and we have little currency in warbirds. But this is a good time to have some fun getting acquainted and reacquainted. I’ll probably start with the F4U and maybe turn to the F6F or the P-38. As ever, fly what you like.

Additional Scenery
Many but not all of the airports are in the default simulator. (Barakoma, Torokina, Bonis, Tobera, and Lakunai are not in the default simulator and are thus required downloads.) I recommend the following freeware addon airport packages. Thanks to these fine authors for their talent and efforts.

Recommended:
Seghe [AGGS].  dciskey 
Munda WWII [AGGM].  Tag21 
Gizo WWII [AGGN].  Tag22 
Barokoma (Vella Lavella) WWII [AGBA]. TAG21
Mono [AGGO]. bltv
Torokina WWII [AGBK].  Tag21 
Bonis WWII [ABON]. smwwwin 
Buka (2024) [AYBK].  Mountainair 
Tokua Rabaul (2024) [AYTK].  Mountainair 
Tobera Rabaul WWII [PTO]. smwwwin 
Lakunai Rabaul WWII [AYRB].  Tag21 

You can get the freeware airport package here. The package also includes freeware creations that are difficult to find.

Libraries. You may have some of these already. The large “Vintage Aircraft Collector Library V2” provides a number of aircraft for the constructed sceneries. And, despite the huge size, the “WW2 Naval Air Station Midway” is well worth the download for this event. (If you are diskspace constrained, you might download and then wipe it after the flight.)
IPDC Vehicles Library.  Amarillon
IPDC Scenery Objects Library.  Amarillon
Dave’s 3D People.  BadMed  
Dave’s Seaplane Base Objects Library.  BadMed 
Dave’s Higher-Res Crooked Library.  BadMed 
Animated Human 3D Models Library. superspud   
Palm Tree Library.  ChrisPiAviation 
Vintage Aircraft Collector Library V2.  Totof33120 [788 MB]
WW2 Naval Air Station Midway circa 1942.  johnnypropeller [1.61 GB! Worth the download for this event.] 

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 8:00am local for March 7, 2026. We typically prefer real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, March 7, 2026. 1900 UTC (2000CET, 1400EST, 1100PST)
Where: RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: South-East Asia server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

[Not relevant here, but note that North American Daylight Savings Time starts on March 8, 2026. European Daylight Savings Time begins March 29, 2026.]